A survey of hedgerows in the parish of Ingatestone and Fryerning
Essex Records Office for their unfailing courtesy and assistance in accessing the maps and other
archives on which this survey is based.
References
ADAMS K.J. (1974) The Geology of Essex. In Flora of Essex Jermyn S.T. Essex Naturalists' Trust.
Colchester, p.31-42.
RACKHAM, O. (1980) The History of the Countryside. Dent. London.
YEARSLEY, I. (1997) Ingatestone and Fryerning - a history. Ian Henry Publications. Romford.
Maps
The principal maps used are mentioned in the text. These include John Walker & Son's estate map of
Ingatestone 1600-01; the same cartographer's map of Ingatestone Hall 1605; Henry Clayton's estate
map of 1779; the tithe map of 1839; the Ordnance Survey 25 inches to one mile map of 1876 and the
six inches to one mile map of 1919. For Fryerning parish the maps include surveys of Ray Farm,
Fryerning Hall and Howlett's Hall commissioned by Wadham College in 1740-42. an estate map of
1825 depicting the whole parish, and the tithe and OS maps as above. Several oilier maps of individual
farms arc also available in the Records Office and these too were used extensively.
Handley Barns Farm, Ingatestone 1600 - 2004
It is possible that Handley Barns has been farmed continuously since Roman times. The remains of
a Roman dwelling, either a villa or farmstead, has been located close to the present house and the
landowner is not allowed to plough the field where it is situated. The farm formed part of an estate
presented to Barking Abbey by King Edgar in 950, and remained in their hands until the Dissolution,
in 1539-40, when it was acquired by Sir William Petre. At that time, in addition to the farm illustrated
below, the property also consisted of over 200 acres of demesne lands plus coppiced springs and
common land that are now known as Stoneymore Wood and Mill Green Common respectively. The
farm remained in the Petre family until 1936. The present owners purchased it in the 1980s.
1600
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)